SASS’S STORY
It started with a kiss….
Hi! I'm Shelley, the artist behind Sass Artworks. To my pointy-nosed friends, I'm known as Sass or sometimes Sassypants—but that's a story for another time!
My passion for art has been a lifelong journey, but my love affair with sighthounds truly set my creative path in motion. My not-so-secret obsession began in 2011 when my first whippet, Picasso, chose me. We met in the exercise yard of a Perth breeder, where one regally fine, blue and white whippet raced up to me mid-zoomies and showered me with kisses. It was kismet. Picasso came home with me, and through our mutual adoration, Sass Artworks was born.
Since that fateful day, my pack and passions have grown. Miss Tilly, our gorgeous brindle and white girl, joined us in 2014, and in 2022, we welcomed our beautiful red fawn whippet, Ruby. Our family also includes two comical Cornish Rex cats, Ezra and Fergus, who occasionally sneak into my illustrations.
These days, I primarily illustrate digitally using Procreate. This gives me the flexibility to create new artwork whenever inspiration strikes, and it also keeps my art safe from cheeky feline paws! While I love watercolour and ink, digital illustration allows me to bring my ideas to life with ease and precision.
My work is a tribute to the unique grace and quirky spirit of sighthounds, particularly greyhounds, whippets, and Italian greyhounds. I find so much joy in capturing their soulful eyes and elegant silhouettes, and it's my hope that my illustrations bring a little bit of that same joy to you. Seeing the faces of visitors at events and markets light up at my quirkiest illustrations, or when they see their own beloved pet represented in my work, truly makes my heart sing.
Ruby and Tilly are my gentle souls and constant companions, spending most of their days keeping me company under my desk. Ruby is a super snuggler—she loves to be my "Ruby Blanket" and gets a sweet little tip of her tongue out when she's happy. Miss Tilly, a mischievous little girl in her youth, has become a super sweet senior with a "sugar face"—that little dusting of white on her muzzle.
Thank you for joining me on this creative journey. To see my latest creations and find out where I'll be next, please check out the calendar of events on my website. I hope to see you there and share some pointy-nosed goodness with you!
One interesting fact about my designs is that the concept sketches are most often created in the last ten minutes of my lunch break. Pretty cool huh?
Originally, my illustrations were traditional ink on paper until my hubby Dan bought me an iPad. Now most of my illustrations are digitally drawn. Rest assured, they are still hand drawn only now I am using an Apple pencil on a screen.
Why not follow me on Instagram for sneak peeks of artist creations in development?
